You probably woke up this morning thinking that it was an ordinary Tuesday. But you are mistaken! Today is the 20th Anniversary of Gorillas Don't Blog - the blog with the dumbest name! Two decades, ye gods. Most of you know the story of the origins of this blog, so I won't rehash it for the umpteenth time, but I will say that I never imagined that I would still be blogging 20 years after I started this hobby (I guess it's a hobby?). I am grateful for the friendly community that has miraculously formed, somehow the trolls and weirdos have stayed away (probably because my readership numbers are relatively minuscule!).
My "saved" folder of extra-special scans is not exactly overflowing, but I chose a few really nice examples for you. Starting with this aerial view of Disneyland! I love aerial views. This photo is undated, but the presence of It's a Small World means it's post-1966. The Haunted Mansion? Post-1969. The Indian Village (where the Dance Circle was) is there, and that remained until 1971. I don't see anything else that helps (perhaps you do), so I will pencil in "1970" for now.
Here's the entire photo, with good views of the backstage areas to the north (left), some vacant lots that I assume belong to Disney today, HoJo's, the lovable Interstate 5 Freeway, the massive parking lot (along with the Harbor Gate), and more.
One yellow Mine Train trundles through the Rainbow Desert... notice the trestle bridge crossing that pond. The Mark Twain is well underway, and the Columbia is in Fowler's Harbor. I admit that it's hard to discern, but just above the "g" of my blogspot watermark, you can just see the round Dance Circle, and the roof of the stadium-style seating to the right of that.
To the left is the Global Van Lines headquarters, and to the right of that is the Roundhouse and the show building for It's a Small World. Small details such as the Pirate Ship and the Motor Boats are fun.
I put in this additional view at the last minute because I wanted to show you the large area that was behind Main Street and Tomorrowland. Along with the Peoplemover trains that are on the tracks, there are several in that backstage area (since the Peoplemover trains don't have wheels, does anybody know how the trains were moved when they were off the track?). Jungle Cruise boats are lined up at the dock in the Rivers of the World, and I think we can even see the white roof of the Carnation milk truck in West Center Street.
More parking lot! Along with various motels that I can't identify. There's the Grand Hotel in the upper right. But I'm most fascinated by that miniature golf course to the middle-right! Does anybody have any information about that? This is new to me (or I forgot about it, more likely). I tried to look it up on Google, but only found endless references to the miniature golf course that used to be at the Disneyland Hotel.
Now we're back on terra firma, with this rare August 1962 photo from inside the Monsanto House of the Future. It looks surprisingly warm and inviting (if a bit small); my guess is that the house had received at least one redecoration since 1957. This appears to be the "boy's room", with a toy sailboat, a relief map of California, a model of the Santa Barbara mission, a cool sculpture (is it "modern", or "primitive"??), and best of all, a wicker moose. I think that clock thing is also a radio and intercom, how did they squeeze so much technology into that one device? In the bottom right, a book with a red-orange cover...
... why, it's "Our Friend the Atom"! I know this is a tangent, but "Our Friend the Atom" is a 1957 episode of the television series Disneyland describing the benefits of nuclear power and hosted by Heinz Haber. It was part of the publicity campaign for peaceful uses of atomic energy, following Dwight D. Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" speech at the UN General Assembly in December 1953. The episode was broadcast on January 23, 1957, and repeated on April 24 of the same year. In 1956, Golden Press published a children's book, The Walt Disney Story of Our Friend the Atom, using artwork from the show.
Let's head over to Frontierland, for this lovely view of the Gullywhumper Keelboat, returning to the dock on the western shore. But the most interesting detail is that skeletal Old Mill structure, presumably there to give a sense of the scale (mills DO have scale!) of the final building that would be built there. Tom Sawyer Island opened to the public June 16, 1956, so I would guess that this photo is from early '56.
I'm always happy to see a photo of the Tomorrowland Spaceman. He towers over that woman… of course she didn't grow up with the 38% gravity of Mars. The little red flag on the Spaceman's antenna is a little silly, but it helps cars to see him when he's on his recumbent astrobike. Say hello to Screechy the Iggle!
And finally, here's a super nice look at a section of Old Tomorrowland, with the Hat Bar nearest to us. Notice the pile of Keppy Kaps, along with what seems to be beanies of different colors, and maybe cavalry-type hats (?). To the left, the Flight Circle, and out of frame to the right, the Rocket to the Moon show building.
That does it for this 20th Anniversary post. I would (once again) like to offer a grateful thanks to all of the Junior Gorillas for sticking with GDB for so many years, and for your fun and informative comments. I've been lucky enough to meet some of you in person, and have even met some in Disneyland, which has been amazing. I can guarantee at least one more year, since I have most of those posts already completed! This is what happens when you don't go outside.
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37 comments:
I’ve only a minute to comment, as I’m on the way to work. Thank you for all you do Major. You make our days a little brighter, even if it’s sometimes blurry.
20 years is a long time. Thanks for your sticking with it!
Major-
What a marvelous set of images-! The aerial image (from around 1971) captures a great number of favorite attractions amongst those of us lucky to have experienced them in the flesh, leading me to 'suggest' when all is said and done - including many beloved attractions that have disappeared - and those which have yet to materialize - this could still very easily be a [the-?] "golden year" for The Park...
Interesting to see the narrow 'shades' still in-use radiating-out from both the King Arthur Carousel and Fan 1. I had thought by that 'late date' that "feature" was long gone.
I'm thinking the "clock-radio-intercom-turbo encabulator" has utilized the clock 'works' cannibalized by WED Imagineers from an RCA clock radio from around 1957 - just about the time the House of the Future made its debut.
Maybe MIKE knows more-accurate dates, but based on how quickly new "structures" of all kinds appeared at Disneyland, I would think the wood framing we see of the Old Mill appeared much later than "early '56"...
That mini red pennant appended atop the Spaceman's helmet looks so silly, as if designed by a seven year old... (No offense to all the seven year olds who ply these pages daily).
20 years-! Where did the time go-? Twenty years is the china anniversary, so... the Franklin Mint-! Just where is the Gorilla’s Don’t Blog Tribute Plate Collection, I ask you-? (I understand the initial release was to feature images of the Disneyland Trash Cans-!)
It [GDB] was only supposed to be classic images from Disneyland – maybe Knott’s Berry Farm, Walt Disney World, local amusement parks and fun views in the US. But somewhere along the line I discovered so much more thanks to a community of frightfully-knowledgeable folks – who knew about all things: KBF; POP; Trains; Monorails; Architecture; Paint; Fiberglass; Trash Cans; Popcorn Wagons; Attraction Posters; Every Amusement Ride; Hair; Clothing; Grandma Purses; Babushkas; and even vest and sweater etiquette-!
Major – the thanks belong with you and your tireless dedication – complete with descriptive and often hilarious commentary – and your follow-up comments. My day is always brightened (or in my case, usually before heading off to slumberland) following reading each daily post. It’s a great place to be-! Thank you.
Melissa, we miss you-!
Somehow, GDB's anniversary date always comes unexpectedly for me. I never think about it, but then... WHOOMP, there it is!
In the aerial views: Like you (and most other Jr. Gs), I love seeing these bird's-eye-view photos of Disneyland. Especially from various years so we can compare and contrast (there'll be a pop quiz later) the changes. I find myself studying these images for longer than I was planning on: "Is that the Haunted Mansion?", "Is that Monstro?", "Is that a red, or yellow PM train heading into the CoP building?", etc.
I count 83 trashcans. A new record! ;-D
The HotF pic: The house looks neat (cool) on the outside, but man, is it small on the inside! Sort of the opposite of Dr. Who's TARDIS. The "boy's room" reminds me of pretty much of the inside of any camp/travel trailer. That sofa with the square foam cushions surely folds out into a bed. The built-in desk that could also serve as a keyboard musical instrument, a dining table, and probably a toilet!
My, the Gullywhumper looks a might drab. I'm guessing these Keelboats are the originals that were used in the series/movie? I do believe that "skeletal" structure is the support work for Fantasmic!'s Burning Dragon... unless I'm mistaken. 8-p
Wow, either that smiling lady is really short or the Spaceman is really tall! Probably a bit of both. I think Screechy has espied the Spaceman's helmet, and is aiming to add it to the clutch of eggs in her nest. This photo is exceptionally clear and crisp!
The Hat Bar: I take my hats with ice and a twist of lime. That's quite a shirt that guy has on at the Hat Bar! (Red and white angular pattern)
Many thanks, Major. GDB is a 'major' part of my day!
There were several trailers that could each hold an entire PeopleMover train without uncoupling it. I think I may have a picture of blue and purple stripped PeopleMover cars on these trailers on my TOMORROWlounge blog. The Trailers could be lined up right behind a spur track that was also the same height as the trailer - they could be manually pushed onto the trailer and trucked off to vehicle maintenance or the cycle shop & paint booth. The PeopleMover storage behind the TL stage / future. Space Mountain site was always temporary. A permanent structure was originally suppose to be build very close to the monorail “roundhouse” but it was determined to be too crowded already with existing train and monorail work space and I think some of the budget was eaten up by the longer monorails needing beam storage extensions in 1969. When the PeopleMover storage was relocated above America Sings ( right where progress City had been , the cars could be removed via a hoist from the rear of the carousel theatre and also as section of track in fantasyland . The PeopleMover trailers could be pulled by a truck or tractor … or burl Ives.
Oh : Congratulations on the BIG BLOG 20!!!!
Wow, you saved some great pics for this momentous occasion!
That miniature golf course was "Golf World," but I think in later years it might have become a "Golf 'n' Stuff." It was located on the corner of Harbor Blvd. and Freeman Way. I believe it was there up until the destruction of Anaheim and the DL parking lot in the late 1990s. When I went to my first audition at DL, I didn't want to be late. I got there EXTRA early, so I pulled into the parking lot of that miniature golf course to pass the time. And when I was working at DL, I used to sometimes get gas at that gas station visible at the corner of Harbor Blvd. and Ball Rd. There was a mobile home park behind it (visible in the photo), but they were both removed in the late 80s for a hotel (Four Points by Sheraton, today). I've posted a link here on GDB to this postcard in the past, but here it is again. It shows the sign for the miniature golf course which reads, "Golf World."
Anaheim's Golf World on Harbor Blvd.
I think we can even see a Pack Mule train crossing the "natural arch bridge" in that aerial photo! It's a little above and to the left of the Mine Train trestle that you pointed out.
That HOTF bedroom is awfully small. I know that the boy's room and the girl's room were both in the same wing, with just a divider down the middle. Did they have any place to put their clothes? Closets? Dressers? In 4th grade, we made relief maps of California that were almost identical to that one in the boy's room. They were made of flour, salt and water, and then painted with tempera paints. We had mine and my brother's maps in the garage for a couple decades. I guess the salt is what kept bugs from eating them? We did eventually toss them because they started to crumble.
Yes, that Tomorrowland Spaceman appears to be HUGE! Maybe he was there To Serve Man.
Thank you so much Major, for all that you do for us. I know that it takes time to do the scanning, adjusting, writing, etc. All of your efforts are greatly appreciated. You should be very proud of the body of work you have created over the last 20 years. (And I'm so glad that you were able to keep your earlier posts/photos from disappearing, a few years back.) In addition to all of the posts, you have also created this wonderful community for us to all gather and be able to share, so you should be proud of that, too!
Happy Vigentennial, Major!
20 Years!?! What a ride it's been, Major! Thanks for all the work you do to keep us Junior Gorillas entertained and off the streets. And today you've really spoiled us with aerial pics. I'll be poring over these when I get some time later today. I'm with Nannook, I do believe the early seventies were peak Disneyland. Thanks again, Major. Heres to another 20!
Congratulations Major on 20 very fun years, taking us back into a world and an America that no longer exists. You say you have a year's worth of scans. I believe it was GDB's 10th anniversary when you expressed the thought that you didn't know how much longer you could continue, and yet here we are! I fully expect another 10 years! Oh, and to echo comments above, your humorous commentary rocks! Thanks again for brightening every morning before I start the grind.
great post! great blog!! happy twentieth!!!
Thank You!
Congratulations Major! A significant milestone. Like many others, I start my day with GDB, it’s the only way to fly. As I’ve said often before, “come for the pictures, stay for the comments”! Never underestimate the therapeutic power of nostalgia, “the feeling of being happy that you’re sad”.
Let’s raise a glass to our absent friends, Thufer, Patrick, Melissa, Chiana Chat, and doubtless others in memory yet green. And another to the friends we have here now!
Thank you Tokyo for the golf info. I played a round here on one of my trips with the Sunday school. We had some event at the Melodyland center, a day in the Park and enough time the following morning to play miniature golf before the half-day drive home. It was a fun course, but I don’t recall much detail.
Thank you for the aerial views, these are so much fun to pick apart, everything we love about the Park, condensed into one view. Perfect for a special post like this. Here’s to many more!
JG
Budblade, thank you, and sorry about the occasional blurry photo!
Nanook, I agree, looking at that 1971-ish aerial, I see so many now-extinct attractions that I loved so much… the park may have been 16 years old, but it was still great! I do generally think of those cloth shades as being from the 1960s, but it’s not too surprising that they’d bleed into the next decade a little bit. I’m assuming that the RCA clock radio was just that, without any modifications made for the HOF. You’re probably right about the Old Mill, that probably didn’t take more than a few weeks to build in those days. I have dreamed about having my own Franklin Mint collection, but some dreams are not meant to be. Thanks for all of your many contributions to GDB!
JB, there are people who somehow keep track of the anniversaries (Nanook, Sue), but I sort of like it when they surprise people, too! 83 trashcans? That’s a lot of hotdogs! I’ve always said that if I won the lottery and built my own HOF, I would pretty much double the size of the rooms. Money is no object! I’m sure you’re right about the sofa/bed. The drab Gullywhumper feels very authentic, I doubt too many real keelboats were painted in folk-art shades of green. I wonder if they had to make custom costumes for those tall Spacemen? That guy has got to be seven feet, or maybe more. Thank you, JB, for your fun comments every day!
Mike Cozart, thanks for the info about the Peoplemover, I’ll have to go look at your old blog and look for the photos of those trailers - I figured they must do something like that, since the trains clearly needed to be able to roll, but had never heard of any process like you mentioned (though I probably did read about it on your TomorrowLounge blog. Blue and purple, though… WHY? That was before Kim Irvine’s work. Thanks Mike!
TokyoMagic!, I guess I must have heard of Golf World on your blog, but had completely forgotten about it. Typical. I hoped somebody out there would know what it was, and I’m glad that you did. I love me some mini golf, though it has been many years since I have played (and I even live near a great mini golf place). Good eye on the Pack Mules! Your mention of making your own relief maps of California brought back memories of other school projects. Yes, that flour-and-salt stuff did not last forever, but for a while it was hard as a rock. Looking at the woman next to the Spaceman, she was probably just under five feet tall. He’s definitely at least two feet taller than her, so seven feet is not a crazy estimate. Thanks, TM!, for all your friendly comments and knowledge!
Pegleg Pete, I know, I think about the fact that I started this in 2006, what a crazy concept. I can’t guarantee another 20 years, but three isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Steve DeGaetano, ha, at some point I made a point to acquire more slides. A LOT more. Not all were gems of course, hence the Snoozle Sundays. Many thanks to you for all of your help and friendship.
LTL, thank you!
Anon, you’re welcome!
Happy Anniversary to Gorilla's Don't Blog. What a journey it has been to get to 20 years. And every single day too! And what a post today to celebrate!
Thanks for all you do, Major.
JG, I knew somebody would leave a comment while I was commenting! Since I don’t do GDB for money (though that would be nice!), my goal is to at least provide an entertaining diversion for a few minutes each day. And to provide a place for companies to try to leave their spam comments for Viagra, hotels, windows, you name it! I see those comments in my email, but they never publish. Yes, we’ve lost a lot of people over the years, I hope the ones that are still with us are doing OK. I’ll have to look at TokyoMagic’s blog about that mini golf course, I’m looking forward to that! Thank you so much, JG.
K. Martinez, ha ha, I can’t keep up! THANK YOU!
Wow. Twenty years is a gigantic milestone of every day posts. Congratulations "Me Davey" and that is said with the utmost of gratitude. These photos today really are very very special. They are all keepers, but I won't use them for commercial purposes. I also love aerial photos and could get lost in them like a trip to the Louvre...could stare at these for hours. When I actually got to fly over and get my own eyeballs on the park: this takes me back to that day, and was geeking out so hard, but had to keep in all inside and remain stoic with my camera. You've all seen those photos on here. That backstage area where Space Mountain is now even with Space Mountain was quite large, and I'm sure it will be swallowed up into something else. Walt did say that he never wanted an office building on the property as he wanted the leadership team to be in the park finding out what the people wanted...not behind a desk. So maybe the old Ad. Bldg is bye bye soon (?) I hope not as it's a tribute to incredibly unique architecture where an office building has a Primeval World with a train running through it. Thanks for posting this house of the future interior! I am actually designing something very very close to that for a client, so this has changed some things for me for "space effeciency". A company is now making a pre-fab mini home very similar to the house of the future...kind of a very slicked up "trailer"....but with a Jetsons vibe. They weren't cheap, but not crazy expensive either. I LOVE seeing the old mill bldg. getting built. It is such a juxtaposition of starting out with "modern" construction (for the day anyway) and then going back 100 years in finishing it. Fowlers harbor looks so very charming. I could see a whole land there with the same kind of theme. Wasn't Randy Bright (RIP)(Disney Exec...later wrote a really great DL book) thrown into this costume at one point? They needed really tall guys obviously. These are all such great and memory-laden photos. When I get to my wind down time later on I really want to inspect them fully as they deserve it. Thanks for 20 years of magic Major! I remember the Disneyland 20 year promotion very clearly, the time goes by so fast. Let's all make notes to take more photos to capture it all. Thanks to Sue for the ping to get me here today, my life has taken a different trajectory: a very good one, and it takes a great deal of time from important things....like GDB!
Congratulations on twenty years, but I'm pretty new here and I don't know the origin story of this blog! Where can I read it?
Congrats on 20 years, Major! I think you've made more lives better than you might think.
Guess my sabbatical turned me into anonymous….and thus it goes…maybe you’ll be seeing me as ODV1980 in the future! Congrats again Major.
Bu, thank you! I’m so glad you discovered GDB years ago, you’ve become a part of the family! At this point I have seen my photos used for “commercial purposes” so nothing would surprise me. Even Disney used one once! You are very lucky that you got to fly over the park, I would have loved to have done that. I see occasional current aerial photos and wonder how they are done, since there is that famous “no fly zone”. Maybe somebody has a super-camera and they get their photos from so high that they are outside the zone? I thought that there were at least a few office buildings backstage even during the Walt era, perhaps he reconsidered his views, even though he has a point. But they couldn’t all be walking the park all day every day, right? I’ve very curious how the House of the Future has inspired you. There’s something about that interior that reminds me of my mom’s old bedroom, my grandmother had some custom bookcases and a desk built that were more modern than her tastes usually ran to. It used to be where I would sleep when I stayed there. I don’t know much about Randy Bright, though I do have his book. For a while it went for big bucks, it was hard to find. Prices seem to have gone down. Thanks again Bu (and I knew it was you even before your later comment), I appreciate everything you’ve done for GDB.
Brendan, there’s not much of a story, but you can see it HERE. Oh, and welcome!
Andrew, thank you! I hope everything is going well with you!
Bu, it was obvious to anyone who knows you!!
Congratulations on 20 years! This page is still my go-to online destination every morning. It cheers me up, makes me laugh, makes me nostalgic, jogs my memory, and teaches me new things. Thank you so much for all your hard work in keeping this going! It is more appreciated than you may know.
Congrats on 20 years, Major!
Thanks to the Jr Gorillas for all of the entertaining and informative commentary.
And thoughts for the Jr. Gorillas we no longer see here.
Little did I realize, after a cartoon stretch and donning my Keppy Kap, that it is such a momentous day!
Even though I drift away sometimes I always come back. That's why I don't know what you all are talking about trees not having scale.
Thank you so much for your dedication!
Zach
Twenty years of photographs,
Twenty years of stuff.
Twenty years of dreams, ideals,
hard facts, and some fluff ...
Many happy returns!
Major, it wasn't on my blog that I posted about the "Golf World" miniature golf course. I had just provided a link to that same postcard here in your comment section, at least once before. It was either when you posted another aerial photo, or a photo of the businesses along Harbor Blvd......or both.
I meant to mention this earlier, because Nanook's joke about the Franklin Mint plates got me thinking. You should sell Gorillas Don't Blog merchandise, like t-shirts, mugs, hats, pins! I know there are companies that make custom enameled pins, and the last time I checked, they didn't cost as much as I thought they would for a small order. I know you are an artist, so I bet you could come up with a great logo. But I guess I also know you well enough to know that selling GDB merchandise probably isn't "your thing." It was just a thought! :-)
Major, I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me -- and especially for my dad, during the last 6-7 years of his life. You and everyone on this blog brought so much happiness to him, and this blog continues to be a fun community gathering place -- for everyone to share and laugh, daily. I KNOW you put a ton of work into this blog. We can never thank you enough - YOU'RE THE BEST!
TM! We really can make some fun GDB merchandise...I might even be interested in coordinating a few limited-edition, fun/silly items....just give me a little time to think on it. Am serious.
"That mini red pennant appended atop the Spaceman's helmet looks so silly, as if designed by a seven year old...."
Nanook, I guess it's there so we can easily find the Spaceman in a crowd. :op
"I count 83 trashcans."
JB, I bet you also looked for the backstage MH Christmas star -- cuz I did! :o)
In the aerial view (which I LOVE), the MH does look like a macaroon. Yummy!
That HOTF image is fantastic -- just like being there! What a great find.
"This is what happens when you don't go outside."
HAHAHAHAHA!
Major,
Congrats on 20 brilliant years! I started 'following' maybe ten of those ago, but these capsules of the Happiest Place on Earth (and occasional diversions elsewhere) are part of my daily rotation.
Today's pics are brilliant (the aerial view of the park really give a sense for just how compact it really is, despite the feeling of unending vastness once inside). Absolutely worthy for a milestone post.
Thank you for all of your effort. Cheers,
-AlbinoDragon
DKoren, thank you - it makes me happy to know that this blog makes people’s lives a little better, in its small way!
Dean Finder, I owe a lot to the many knowledgeable Junior Gorillas for sure. Thank you!
Zach, the park should make new Keppy Kaps! Identical to the old ones. I wonder how those might sell! Thanks for “tuning in”.
DBenson, “some fluff”?? This blog is the most important and influential place on the Internet!
TokyoMagic!, I have several copies of that postcard, but never noticed the Golf World sign until today! I know that places like Red Bubble will produce custom merchandise, but I already spend enough time on GDB, if I also had to design merch, I’d never get a break! Based on my low readership numbers, I don’t think I would be getting rich. But I appreciate your enthusiasm!
Lou and Sue, thank YOU for all that you have done for GDB, sharing your dad’s photos, and for being a friend (for folks that don’t know, I’ve met Sue in person several times)!
Lou and Sue, one of my problems is that I am never happy with my own designs, I’d planned on making some sort of graphic “marquee” for this blog years ago, and did five or six half-assed versions - none of which I wanted to commit to. I finally decided to do without. I do have a Haunted Mansion graphic that I made that I really like, but, I don’t know, after 20 years I’m not sure I want to do merch. That backstage Christmas star photo is still such a mind-blowing thing, I’d be amazed if I ever found another photo that showed it. I’m glad you liked today’s photos!
AlbinoDragon, I never know how people find GDB, it sure isn’t because I publicize it! But I figure that the people who DO find it belong here, if you know what I mean. Thanks for the kind words!
Major,
Like AlbinoDragon, I stumbled across your blog about 10-11 years ago and it has been a daily ritual ever since. Not sure just how I stumbled into it, but it has been and continues to be a daily habit. Sometimes way too early in the day, sometimes way too late in the evening. The knowledge about the parks and all sorts of other stuff, like steam locos, cameras, sound gear, locations around the country and so forth that others supply is phenomenal. It's great. And the humor. Can't overlook the humor.
Thank you for the efforts you invest in your blog. All of us 'juniors' appreciate your work, and are enjoying our daily 'dose' GDB.
W
Happy 20th anniversary to GDB and Major! Like everyone else, a stop here usually teaches me something and/or gives me a laugh each day. The Boy of the Future also has a terrifying clown head near the moose fruit basket(?). I spy my beloved Pringle-shaped paper souvenir hat on a girl in the last pic. Thank you and onward to more fun!
Sorry I’m late, but I have spent most of the day in a place with spotty to no cell service and have had my phone on “airplane mode” to preserve battery power.
Thank you again, Major, for all you have done and continue to do with Gorillas Don’t Blog. I think I stumbled on your page via a link from Yesterland in November or December of 2009, and it has become my favorite online community. I know I speak for more than myself when I say that this bright corner of cyberspace has lightened the mood on some very dark days indeed. I wouldn’t trade my time with your pictures, commentary, and the little band of merry misfits you have mustered for all the cheese in China.
You, sir, ROCK!!!
Warren Nielsen, I’m glad that you check in, whether it’s early or late. I count on the knowledge of others to make this even a little bit “scholarly”, but it seems to work!!
Kathy!, I just ignored the clown head! “Pringle-shaped paper souvenir hat”, ha ha!
Chuck, you are forgiven, I know you and Mrs. Chuck were having an adventure. 2009, that’s pretty early! Year three. It sounds corny, but I really feel like bringing a little joy to people’s day is something I am proud of, especially the way the Internet (and world) is these days. Thanks Chuck!
Congratulations on 20 years, Major! When I came across this blog many years ago, I have to admit that I was initially a bit confuddled as to what Gorillas had to do with Disneyland, but now it all makes sense, ...I think. Anyway, thanks for the overview of Disneyland 1970! -- perhaps my favorite visit, when we did a two-family assault on the park and my cousin wore her sunglasses on all the indoor rides, and then complained about how dark they were. Also, you never let us down - this time including a rare glimpse of the Hat Bar, and yet another view of the early Tomorrowland Skyway pylon. It's good they kept that railing around it to keep it in place. Thanks for all your hard work!
Happy Anniversary! I hope you continue your great blog for years to come. Thanks for all the great 64-65 Worlds Fair pictures, and the Disneyland pictures are pretty good too!
Dennis, Levittown, NY
I never know how people find GDB, it sure isn’t because I publicize it!
Major, I found you while doing an internet search. I was either looking for an answer to a Disneyland question or a Disneyland image....I can't remember which one all these years later, but your blog came up in the search results. Your vintage images were great, but I was also hooked by your hilarious commentary. I remember that it was June or July of 2008......18 years ago! And it was by the end of July of 2008 that I started my own blog, after being inspired by you and VDT of the Vintage DL Tickets blog (I found his blog through yours). Thank you again, Major....for everything!
Congratulations from the entire Devlin family.
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